Monday 4 March 2013

SOTA - Black Mountain - GW/SW-041

Black Mountain - 703m, 6 points

Association: Wales  Region: South Wales  
Latitude: 52 0 30 N, Longitude: 3 5 12 W
Grid Reference: SO 255350, QTH Locator: IO82KA


This is a nice hill to activate. I arrived at the parking spot on the Gospel Pass (SO240373) to find one other car there. The weather was fine with temperatures hovering around freezing point. After an initial hard climb, the path contours around the hill and eventually switches back to the Hay Bluff trig point at 677 metres. From here the path is almost flat following Offa's Dyke path to the summit at 703 metres.

The summit itself is featureless. I opted to operate on the Welsh side of the path only because it felt more sheltered. Once again contacts came quick and fast with 52 QSOs and 16 DXCC. The US stations worked were extremely loud today. 
Although this is a popular summit, today I only saw 6 other people who had braved the cold but lovely sunny weather. On the steep slippery descent my feet went from under me, so I arrived back at the car with a muddy arse to accompany the 9 points for the day!
Hay Bluff - 677 metres

Hay Bluff from the carpark
Lord Hereford's Knob in the background

Still plenty of snow on the northern flanks.
 


An icy wasteland.

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